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St. Barnabas Senior Services and the California Department of Public Health launch “Dinner and a Dose” campaign to give gift cards to people who help others get their COVID-19 vaccine

(Los Angeles, California – June 9, 2021) St. Barnabas Senior Services partnered with the California Department of Public Health to launch "Dinner and a Dose" today, a campaign that gives $25 DoorDash (a food delivery app) gift cards to people who take the time to help their older friends, family, or community members get the COVID-19 vaccine.

After helping someone get their COVID-19 vaccine, participants should fill out, and submit a photo through, an online form to receive their gift card. The form and more instructions can be found at www.sbssla.org/dinner-and-a-dose. “Dinner and a Dose” will run from June 9, 2021 until supplies last.

“Dinner and a Dose” is part of St. Barnabas’s ongoing efforts to increase vaccination rates in Los Angeles, particularly among low-income seniors with limited English proficiency. The campaign was conceived to make vaccines more accessible for people who face barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, such as lack of transportation or technology, disabilities, or limited mobility.

“Through the campaign, we hope that older adults can begin to reconnect safely with their loved ones – starting with a meal on us,” says Trisha Hanudel Lopez, Director of Development for St. Barnabas Senior Services.

A leader in the aging services sector, St. Barnabas Senior Services has been at the forefront of providing accurate, timely information about COVID-19 and vaccines to seniors in Los Angeles. The organization has devoted itself to helping disadvantaged older adults get vaccinated, establishing a COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Center and hosting talks on vaccine equity and safety.

Most significantly, St. Barnabas organized and hosted a week-long community vaccine clinic at its Mid-City location in April 2021. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, they distributed over 1,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to older adults, their caregivers, and members of local communities. St. Barnabas’s multi-lingual staff facilitated vaccine appointments in English, Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin.

“I see ‘Dinner and a Dose’ as a natural extension of the work we did with the vaccine clinic in April,” explains Hanudel. “[With the clinic,] we saw how important the vaccine was in helping family members feel safe reconnecting with each other. We gave vaccines to not only older adults, but also to their loved ones: family members, friends, and caregivers. With ‘Dinner and a Dose,’ we hope to see more vulnerable older adults get vaccinated, with the help of the ‘good Samaritans in their own lives, so they can feel safe in seeing with their loved ones again.”

For questions, please contact Trisha Hanudel Lopez at phanudel@sbssla.org or call 213-355-8554.

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